Weekly Downtown E-News 1/31/08

The biggest Mardi Gras this side of the Mississippi is back and the weather is not an obstacle this year! This year's Muncie Gras will take place on Saturday, February 2nd, from 7pm-2am in the streets of Downtown Muncie. There will be tons of places to get out of the cold. A new addition this year is 3 huge heated tents (40' x 100'). Inside will be live entertainment, drag show, costume contests, mechanical bull riding, etc. In addition, our downtown bars will also be hosting live entertainment. For more information and entertainment lineup, visit www.munciedowntown.com and click on the Muncie Gras banner.

April 26th Cardinal Greenway will be hosting a 5k race, and a 10k race on May 31st (both include 5k non-competitive walks). Donations are requested -- What a GREAT way to promote your business! contact Lenette@cardinalgreenways.org to donate.

FEBRUARY EVENTS :

1st - Muncie Children's Museum - Friends and Family Fun Night. Free admission from 3 - 7 p.m. Visitors will make Valentine's cards, and take part in games and Valentine's Day-themed activities such as Valentine's Bingo. Prizes will be awarded to the winners. For more information, contact the Museum at 286-1660 or visit our website at www.munciechildrensmuseum.com.

1st - The Living Room presents Nate Hack and Leah Ashton. Show starts at 8:30pm. Check out Leah's myspace page at myspace.com/leahashton and The Living Room's myspace page at myspace.com/thelivingroommuncie.

1st - Redic-u-ligion and Lady Moon will be perfoming at Doc's Music Hall at 8pm. Visit www.docsmusichall.com for info.

2nd - Downtown's annual Mardi Gras (Muncie Gras) returns. Advance tickets are now available. Visit munciedowntown.com for details, or call Downtown Develoment at 282-7897.

2nd The Artist Within: ....Expose Yourself To The Fun (private party at The Artist Within). Special Mardi Gras hours: 7-midnight

2nd - Morton's Pub & Grub features: Mars or the Moon during Mardi Gras

3rd and 10th Artist Within offers Fused Glass classes from 11-5pm more details visit www.theartistwithininc.com

3rd - Trivia Night at Doc's Music Hall. It's absolutely free to play, and the winning team gets a $50 bar tab. Teams have to be ready to play at 9pm sharp.

4th Community Center for Vital Aging (CCVA) presents: I'm Eating What!?! Deciphering Food Labels 6:30-8:00pm

4th Community Center for Vital Aging (CCVA) presents: Beginning Bridge 11-12:15pm FREE ($12 one time charge for book) Duplicate Bridge 1:00-2:00pm

5th Community Center for Vital Aging (CCVA) presents: Finishing Touches--Giving Your Food Flair 6:30-8:00pm

5th - Morton's Pub & Grub feature: Pray for Mojo - come enjoy Louisiana Crawfish Boil

7th Community Center for Vital Aging (CCVA) presents: What's So Great About Organic Foods? 6:30-8:00pm

7th The Artist Within: opening reception for artist Jason Bord, Paul Grant, Marc Girouard, Andrew Nicholson and Brie Thompson

8th Community Center for Vital Aging (CCVA) presents: TRIAD Meeting 10-11am

8th-10th Muncie Civic theatre and Cornerstone Center for the Arts team up for Ragtime

8th - David Allan Coe at Doc's Music Hall, with Michael Martin Band and The Silver Dollar Family Band. Show starts at 9pm, doors open at 5. Visit docsmusichall.com for info.

8th - Robert Mathison and Noah East will be playing at The Living Room. Doors open at 8pm, show starts at 8:30pm. Visit www.thelivingroommuncie.com or http://www.myspace.com/noaheastmusic

10th - Indiana Public Radio's 7th annual "All Things Chocolate," February 10th at Minnetrista. Registration deadline is Feb. 7. For more information, call Carol Trimmer at 765-285-5887. Registration form and guidelines may be downloaded at www.bsu.edu/ipr.

11th Community Center for Vital Aging (CCVA) presents: The Wonders of Chocolate 6:30-8:00pm

12th Community Center for Vital Aging (CCVA) presents: Diabetes and the Diet 6:30-8:00pm

12th - Black History Field Day at Minnetrista, Feb. 12. Children grades 4-n8 will spend the day meeting African Americans who made an important impact on America's history. Tolerance and mutual respect for all people will be the focus for the day. Register by Feb. 1.

14th Artist Within Valentine's Day Desserts and More 6-9pm

14-16th Civic theatre and Cornerstone Center for the Arts team up for Ragtime

15th - Darkroom and The Better Take (James Clary, Andrew Schneider, Der! ek Young, Josh Elrod, Keegan Ferris) will be playing at The Living Room on February 15th. Doors open at 8pm, show starts at 8:30pm. http://www.myspace.com/darkroommusic or http://www.myspace.com/thebettertake

18th Community Center for Vital Aging (CCVA) presents: Beginning Bridge11-12:15 FREE and Duplicate Bridge 1-2:00pm

18th - Muncie Children's Museum - Open for President's Day. For more information, contact the Museum at 286-1660 or visit our website at www.munciechildrensmuseum.com.

19th Community Center for Vital Aging (CCVA) presents: Keeping Sharp in your Kitchen 6:30-8:00pm

20th - PBS Program Club at Minnetrista - "Oswald's Ghost" aired on WIPB-TV Jan 14. This film, part of the American Experience series, focuses on the public's fascination with Lee Harvey Oswald and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Meeting Place: Minnetrista. Price: Free

20th Community Center for Vital Aging (CCVA) presents: You Are What You Eat 6:30-8:00pm

21st - An Inside-Out Minne-trip Thurs., Feb. 21, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. If the Grossology exhibit sparked your curiosity, then you'll love this trip! Learn more at the Ruth Lilly Center in Indianapolis, and explore the Medical History Museum to see the treatments, tools, and medicines used through time to cure our ailments! Lunch is provided. Registration Deadline: Mon., Feb. 18

22nd - Get Your GROSS On! (For Grown-ups Only) at Minnetrista, 5:30 - 7 p.m. Complimentary drink, tasty treats, and an exploration of everything gross, featuring the exhibit, Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body. Registration Deadline: Friday, February 15. Call 282-4848 to make your reservation.

22nd - Adam Weber and Adam Clark will be playing at The Living Room on the! 22nd. Doors open at 8pm, the show starts at 8:30pm. Come out for a night of great music and laughs! www.thelivingroommuncie.com or myspace.com/adam_weber

23rd - Muncie Children's Museum - Free Family Saturday. Free admission from 10 am to 5 pm. For more information, contact the Museum at 286-1660 or visit our website at www.munciechildrensmuseum.com.

24th - Minnetrista Show & Tell: Hand-dipped Chocolates Sun., Feb. 24, 1:30 - 3 p.m. Are hand-dipped chocolates as easy to make as they are to eat? Learn a new skill from the experts at Lowery's Candies! Price: Included with paid admission.

24th - Minnetrista presents Candies, Cards, and Chocolates, Sun., Feb. 24, 1 - 3 p.m. For 4-9 year-olds. Valentine's Day may be over, but at Minnetrista the fun has just begun. Learn how to mold a candle, create a card, and dip your own chocolate, with the help of Lowery's Candies. Registration Deadline: Thurs., Feb.21.

25th Community Center for Vital Aging (CCVA) presents: : Beginning Bridge11-12:15 FREE and Duplicate Bridge 1-2:00pm

27th Community Center for Vital Aging (CCVA) presents: The Truth About Global Warning 6:30-8:00pm

28th - The Downtown Business Council will meet Wednesday, Feburary 28th, at 3:00 p.m. in the conference room at The Star Press building, 345 S. High St. Downtown Business Council is not limited to businesses and merchants. Residents, organizations and supporters of downtown in general are all encouraged to attend.

29th Community Center for Vital Aging (CCVA) presents: Craft Seminar 10-12pm

FEBRUARY ONGOING :

Through February - Tthe Artist Within will feature abstract paintings by Jason Bord from Feb. 5 through 29th. The upstairs gallery at The Artist Within will feature the work of four Ball State University students, Paul Grant, Marc Girouard, Andrew Nicholson and Brie Thompson, from Feb. 5-29th. An opening reception will be held for both exhibits on First Thursday, February 7, from 5-8 pm.

Through February -Artworks will exhibit "From Heart and Hand" by Arline Johnstone and Donna Cunningham, February 7 through March 6, 2008. An opening reception will be held during First Thursday, Feb 7, 5:30pm to 8:30pm

Through February - Gordy Fine Art and Framing will feature Marilynn Derwenskus, painting professor at Ball State University,who will exhibit new works along with four of her friends - three from Cardiff, Wales, and the fourth from Oakland, CA. A reception for the artists will be held First Thursday, February 7th from 5 to 8 PM. Light refreshments will be served and the public is invited to attend.

Through February - Gallery 308 exhibit photography by Katie James, 'Shifting Dimensions'. James is a graduating senior studying photography at Ball State. Her exhibition opens on First Thursday, February 7, with an evening reception at the Gallery at 308 East Main. The reception begins at 5:00 p.m. Admission is free; refreshments will be served.

Through February -Muncie Children's Museum - Daily Make 'n Take. Included in Museum's admission. 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. For more information, contact the Museum at 286-1660.

Feb 16 - March 30 - 18th Minnetrista Annual Juried Art Show & Sale. The visual arts are alive and flourishing in East Central Indiana. Artists from across East Central Indiana will participate in the 18th Minnetrista Annual Juried Art Show & Sale. The exhibit will be open to the public February 16 - March 30, 2008 at Minnetrista.

Through Apr. 24th Cornerstone for the Arts winter classes. Call for more info about classes at 281-9503 or visit www.cornerstonearts.org.

Feb. 2nd - April 27th - "Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body" exhibit at Minnetrista. For more information, call (765) 282-4848, visit www.minnetrista.net, or visit the Grossology tour Web site at www.grossologytour.com.

Through May 2 - Muncie Children's Museum presents Chagall for Children, a one-of-a-kind traveling exhibit. Admission is included with regular admission to the Museum. For more information on Chagall for Children, call (765) 286-1660 or visit www.munciechildrensmuseum.com

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